Not even interventions from Manchester United legends David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, and Rio Ferdinand have been enough to halt the fall of Marcus Rashford as he faces a likely exit from the club. The 27-year-old seems destined to leave Old Trafford, either imminently or in the summer after manager Ruben Amorim made it clear Rashford isn’t a part of his immediate plans.

And The Mirror reported how a number of United legends attempted to lend the player their support in bids to correct form. In January 2024, The Sun revealed United staff had concerns about Rashford’s supposed ‘party lifestyle’, dating back as far as 2021.

The forward was benched for an FA Cup game against Newport County 12 months ago after calling in sick for training. This came after an alleged alcohol-laden day out in Belfast, after which Beckham and Ferdinand were said to have reached out to Rashford in an attempt to get back on track.

Rooney, who has experienced his own share of media scrutiny, showed understanding back then but now seems to have adopted a tougher stance. Last year, he admitted he didn’t have any sympathy for Rashford amid his on-pitch struggles and insisted the striker was ‘privileged’.

And now he’s commented on how Rashford must be feeling “embarrassed” after he spotted him training separately from the main squad at Carrington.

United’s all-time top scorer – who once tipped Rashford to break his record – provided insights into Rashford’s predicament on a recent episode of the Stick to Football podcast: “I went into Carrington on Sunday to take my kids to game day and Marcus Rashford was out on the training pitch with the fitness coach, but he was right over towards where the parents were walking past for the kids’ games.

“I looked at him thinking how embarrassing it must be for him as parents walk past. I’ve spoken to Marcus a couple of times and I’ve given him my thoughts and feelings that he needs to leave the football club, because whatever is going on his life and at Manchester United, he’s not the same. For him to have a fresh start, he needs to leave the club.”

Rashford has been absent from the team since playing in a Europa League match against Viktoria Plzen on December 12 and did not take part in Thursday’s win over FCSB. Barcelona have supposedly raised interest in a loan deal, but his £300,000-a-week salary complicates any move.

Another United legend, Roy Keane, didn’t mince words regarding Rashford’s decline. And he suggested the former prodigal son “must be ashamed” with how his decline has come about.

“I can’t get involved in the conversation, I still can’t understand at any level,” he said on Stick to Football. “Whatever’s going on with players leaving, months left on contracts, a player who doesn’t train properly… I don’t understand it.

“You might as well leave me out of this conversation. Especially if you think he wants to move, which is more of a reason to train properly so when you go to a new club you’re up to speed and when you leave the club at least you showed a decent attitude. He must be ashamed.”